Steven Albert Kiner was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and Houston Oilers.
13 Facts About Steve Kiner
1.
2.
Steve Kiner played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, earning consensus All-American honors twice.
3.
Steve Kiner was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
4.
Steve Kiner attended Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Florida, where he was all-city and all-state on both offense and defense.
5.
Steve Kiner originally accepted a football scholarship from the University of Florida, but after it was revoked, he decided to play for the University of Tennessee.
6.
Steve Kiner was converted into a linebacker and became a three-year starter.
7.
Steve Kiner played in the same linebacking unit as future NFL player Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds and was named SEC Sophomore of the Year.
8.
Steve Kiner's talent made Bear Bryant state, "the best in this league since Lee Roy Jordan played for us".
9.
Steve Kiner was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 1970 NFL draft.
10.
In 1971, he clashed with Tom Landry, after Chuck Howley was convinced to come back from retirement and gave him the position Steve Kiner thought he deserved, forcing the team to trade him to the New England Patriots in exchange for a fourth round draft choice on July 23.
11.
Steve Kiner had five productive seasons and was credited by head coach Bum Phillips "for turning the Houston Oilers into winners".
12.
Steve Kiner was waived before the start of the season on August 27,1979.
13.
Steve Kiner's father survived four years as a prisoner during World War II in Japan.